Society considers rule change for earlier admission

Some trainee solicitors could be allowed to appear in court at an earlier stage, under revisions to the regulations on admission as solicitor being considered by the Law Society of Scotland.

The review of the admission regulations is being undertaken as part of a wider Rules Review Project, and is also looking at procedures by which lawyers from other countries can requalify in Scotland.

Jane MacEachran, convener of the Society’s Education & Training Policy Committee, commented: "In addition to changing the processes on how lawyers from elsewhere in the world requalify in Scotland and modernising admission processes more generally, we will be making changes to the earliest date of admission of trainee solicitors. This would allow some trainees to appear in court at an earlier stage, which we know is of particular interest to the profession.

"In moving the date of admission, we must ensure that we have appropriate safeguards in place for trainees, their employers and their clients, and we are currently working on this. We intend to bring forward new admission regulations before the end of the current practice year and will keep the profession informed of progress."